Once upon a time, way back in 1986, I drove an Excel — Hyundai's entry vehicle to the U.S. market. It was terrifying to drive. It wallowed, wheezed and it felt like parts were falling off as it rolled down the road. With the upcoming launch of the 2018 Hyundai Accent, the successor to the first Excel, Hyundai has a very respectable sub-compact car to sell.
Of course, car sales are down, and Hyundai Motor America would rather have the Kona small crossover SUV on dealer lots now instead of in the Spring. But Accent is needed as the low-priced anchor to Hyundai's car presence.
2018 Hyundai Accent Models and Pricing
Hyundai has raised the base MSRP by $250, but it feels like much more cost was added to the car than $250. Its $14,995 base price is for a base SE 4-door sedan with a 6-speed manual transmission. A 6-speed automatic on the SE adds $1,000. The top of the line Limited goes for $18,895 and an 8-speed automatic is standard. All models of the 2018 Hyundai Accent are powered by a 130-horsepower 1.6L DOHC GDI 4-cylinder engine.
Going up to the mid-range SEL model you get a 4-wheel disc brakes, a 7-inch center screen and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto capability, driver's blind spot mittot. When you go all out and select the Limited, front LED accent lights, sunroof, LED taillamps, 17-inch wheels, BlueLink Connected Services, automatic temperature control and a 3.5-inch TFT screen in the instrument cluster are added. Heated seats are part of the Limited package.
2018 Hyundai Accent Presence
But pricing and equipment isn't all that is interesting about the Accent. It looks good and doesn't look particularly downscale. Accent now has the signature Hyundai grille. Its profile is semi-fastback like the Sonata.
The ride is good. Handling is better than many small cars. Ergonomics are excellent. The beefy leather wrapped steering wheel in the Limited is worthy of a much more expensive car. The door closing sound is a reassuring thunk rather than a clang that characterized many small cars in the past. Easy to get into, with great visibility, the Excel will be an easy car to live with.
The only strong criticism is the interior. The black interior of the model AutoPacific drove swallowed light like a black hole. The seats, while pretty comfortable, had a muted check insert that confirmed its lower price positioning. The upper surface of the instrument panel glared under heavy sunlight — almost like it had a coat of Armor-all on it. Not good.
The customer looking for base transportation without too many bells and whistles should be very satisfied with the 2018 Hyundai Accent.
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